Senegal: President Abdoulye Wade Grooming His Son Karim Wade as His Successor" Reveals Journalist Mboup

President Abdoulie Wade of Senegal has been accused of grooming his son Karim Wade to succeed him. The accusations were made by Veteran Senegalese Journalist and renowned Broadcaster Souleymane Mboup. Mr. Mboup was speaking in an Exclusive Interview With the US Based Freedom Newspaper. Mr.Mboup also accuses President Wade of trying to enforce what he calls" Monarchial rule" in the former French Colony by allegedly grooming his son as his successor.

Mr.Mboup who is residing in the United States, argues that "Senegal is not a Monarch and any attempt on the side of President Wade and the powers that be to impose Karim Wade to Senegalese would be greeted with strong resistance." Mboup also lamented about President Wade's recent move to meddle into the affairs of Senegal's National Assembly mattes to the point of firing Speaker Macky Sall, whose only crime according to Mr.Mboup was to probe Wade's son Karim Wade on an alleged embezzlement of public funds. Mboup says the sacking of Sall was unconstitutional. "Economically speaking, that is absolutely wrong. It's politically incorrect. Cutting salaries is not the solution to Senegal's problem. Commodity prices are going up. Electricity bills are also going up. Loaf of bread is becoming more and more expensive. The rice is Expensive . They are happy in their mind, in their Government, but the Senegalese population are far from being happy. Abdoulie Wade wants to sack the Speaker of Parliament, which is unconstitutional. He never followed the set rule for the removal of a Speaker. He asked all the MPS to sign a Petition.

Some signed the petition, while others refused to sign it. The Speaker merely summoned Wade's son Karim Wade to testify before the House on matters relating to embezzlement of funds. The constitution gave powers to the Speaker to summon Wade's son. Wade was so mad with the Speaker's decision. Wade wants to impose his son the Senegalese people as his successor. And that's politically incorrect for a democracy like Senegal. President Wade's son Karim Wade is not fit to succeed his son. He lacks the knowledge, charisma, and political wisdom to succeed his father. Senegal is not a Monarch. President Wade should know that." says Mr.Mboup. Below is part one of the interview we had with Mr.Mboup. Please read on........

Freedom Newspaper: Recently, there was a big riot in the Senegalese Capital Dakar. What can you tell us about this riot?

S Mboup: This riot is another way for the population to show everybody in the world that they are fed up with the Government of President Wade. As I said earlier, to another Newspaper in Senegal, that the problem has nothing to do with street petty traders. The Senegalese populace are exhibiting their position on the current state of affairs. That they don't don't want to give credit or recognition to the Government of the day. Attributing the riots to the petty traders is just an excuse for them to go into the streets. There are so many factors that contributed to the recent riot.

Freedom Newspaper: What are these factors you talking about?

S Mboup: If you look at the Senegalese political climate right now, it's very tense. President Abdoulie Wade is getting more and more unpopular because of some measures that he want to take. First of all, there was a strike spearheaded by Asecna and I think you are aware of the said strike. The people who controlled the air traffic went on strike and the whole airport was shutdown for an entire day. President Wade was at the material time in Paris and was supposed to return home. The strikers later backed down and said " we are patriots and do not want to hold our President under hostage." They opened the airport the next day.

Freedom Newspaper: We gathered that the Government of President Abdoulie Wade has decided to cut down salaries and had also embarked on serious economic reforms in a bid to curb the country's growing inflation. The Government is doing pretty go, according to Wade supporters to control inflation. What do you make out of this?

S Mboup: How can you tell me ....Economically speaking, that is absolutely wrong. It's politically incorrect. Cutting salaries is not the solution to Senegal's problem. Commodity prices are going up. Electricity bills are also going up. Loaf of bread is becoming more and more expensive. The rice is expensive . They are happy in their mind, in their Government, but the Senegalese population are far from being happy. Abdoulie Wade wants to sack the Speaker of Parliament, which is unconstitutional. He never followed the set rule for the removal of a Speaker. He asked all the MPS to sign a Petition. Some signed the petition, while others refused to sign it. The Speaker merely summoned Wade's son Karim Wade to testify before the House on matters relating to embezzlement of funds. The constitution gave powers to the Speaker to summon Wade's son. Wade was so mad with the Speaker's decision. Wade wants to impose his son the Senegalese people as his successor. And that's politically incorrect for a democracy like Senegal. President Wade's son Karim Wade is not fit to succeed his son. He lacks the knowledge, charisma, and political wisdom to succeed his father. Senegal is not a Monarch. President Wade should know that.

Freedom Newspaper: On the other hand, the Wade Government had argued that it makes no sense for the Government to pay exorbitant salaries to Civil Servants, when they are trying promote economic growth and reforms in the country. Is it wise for the Government to just increase salaries like that?

S Mboup: That's what I was telling you. Who is getting the fat salary and the big salary? It's just like The Gambia. Do you know how much one MP get in Senegal or a Secretary of State? The Secretary of State is allocated with 2500 liter of fuel. They are receiving more than 1 Million CFA as a salary. That's completely wrong.

Freedom Newspaper: You are implying that the Government is paying huge amount of money to senior officials when the ordinary Civil Servant is starving to death?

S Mboup. Absolutely yes. The gap is very high. Look at the gap and judge for yourself. According to international GDP, per capita is very high because Senegal's debt is very huge.

Freedom Newspaper: Mr.Mboup what can you tell us about the Presidential jet?

S Mboup: They went and purchased an expensive jet. That jet would cost Senegal more 10 Million for its upkeep yearly. I'm not taking about other expenses that the jet might need along the way. Buying a new jet for a Senegalese African President, it is not right. Something is wrong somewhere. I don' think Senegal is heading towards the right direction. Something is wrong with that Government. Thepopulation of Senegal are accumulating all these frustration. That's a bombshell. Senegalese are suffering in the hands of these visionless leaders.

Freedom Newspaper: So you are implying President Wade don't need a jet?

S Mboup: Every President needs a jet. There are other jets which Senghore and Abdou Diouf used, nothing is wrong with those jets. Nothing is stopping him to maintain these jets. This is not the right time for a Presidential jet for Senegal.

Freedom Newspaper: You earlier talked about political similarities between The Gambia and Senegal.

How would you compare President Wade and President Jammeh? Among the two Presidents, who would raise as a true democrat?

S Mboup: Both Wade and Jammeh are not true democrats. They are not accountable. You cannot rule against the will of the people. You cannot rule people under terror. People have the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of Movement and to go about their normal life. But what Jammeh is doing, is exactly the same thing what Wade is doing. Senegalese don't want to be rule with heavy hands . Period.

Editors note. Part two of the interview, would follow in subsequent editions. Thanks...

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